GB2416995A

GB2416995A - Intravenous catheter with needle guard

Info

Publication number: GB2416995A
Application number: GB0418101A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Don Julian De Silva; Akbar De Medici
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-08-13
Filing date: 2004-08-13
Publication date: 2006-02-15
Also published as: GB0418101D0

Abstract

Apparatus for intravenous catheter insertion comprising a needle 11 and a catheter 20 which are inserted into a blood vessel. Preferably the needle 11 slides within the catheter tube 20. A needle guard 30 may be located within the catheter 20 and engages with grooves on the needle 11. The needle guard 30 may move freely within the catheter 20. As the needle 11 is withdrawn from the catheter 20 the needle guard 30 may move to cover the needle tip 12 and locks in place. The locking means may comprise a triangular wedge 14 and collar 15 located on the needle forming a groove 16 which locates a lip 31 on the proximal end of the needle guard 30 as the needle 11 is withdrawn. May prevent accidental injury as the needle 11 is withdrawn from the catheter 20.

Description

1 2416995

O

INTRAVENOUS CATHETER WITH NEEDLE GUARD

DESCRIPTION

1] This cannula encompasses a retractable needle casing for rendering the needle safely out of exposure immediately after use of the device. The invention is useful in the practice of medicine for improving safety from the danger of needle stick injury after the intended use of the apparatus in inserting an intravenous catheter.

2] Intravenous catheters are used in the practice of medicine for intravenous administration of fluids, such as hydrating solutions, medications, blood products, and nutrients, to a patient. An intravenous catheter ordinarily includes a flexible tube with a tip that is positioned within a blood vessel of the patient. A connection hub is attached to the external end of the cannula for connection to external apparatus to facilitate intravenous administration of fluids.

3] Prior to insertion into a patient, an intravenous catheter includes a trocar. The trocar includes a needle. The needle extends from the forward end of the styles and through the connection hub and catheter cannula. The connection hub may be removed and engages the forward end of the styles. When the needle is positioned with the cannula the tip extends beyond the tip of the cannula.

4] On inserting the catheter the tip of the needle is placed within a blood vessel of the patient, the person inserting the catheter grasps the body of the styles with one hand and pierces the skin of the patient with the needle to locate the tip of the cannula within the blood vessel.

5] Correct positioning of the tip of the needle within the desired blood vessel is usually indicated by a flush of blood between the needle and the cannula of the catheter. After a blood return is observed, the styles is withdrawn while the doctor uses the other hand to apply light pressure upon the catheter, so that the needle can be withdrawn.

6] After the styles is withdrawn, the doctor normally tapes the catheter in position at the insertion site prior to attaching an infusion line. While taping the catheter the person inserting the catheter must put down the styles. The contaminated needle of the styles remains an exposed sharp hazard at this time until it can be disposed of.

Commonly needle stick injuries can occur at this time or in the process of disposing of the needle. Accidental needle sticks were considered to be a occupational hazard in the past, however increased awareness of lethal illnesses, including viral hepatitis and the Human Immune Virus (HIV), which is associated with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) have placed increased importance on prevention.

7] It would be desirable to provide a simple catheter apparatus that would be rendered safe immediately after withdrawal from a patient. Previous attempts to provide a needle protection device have included sleeves that have had a tendency to flick residual blood remaining on the needle, thus transferring one type of potential hazard to another.

8] Other protection devices have utilized complex mechanical springs or locking O 2 devices, which may require additional manipulation of the cannulae and with escalated cost.

9] It would be desirable to provide a catheter insertion apparatus that provides a non-distracting, yet immediate and discernible tactile or audible confirmation that the needle is protected.

0] The present invention utilizes an apparatus for intravenous catheter insertion, described in claim 1.

[001 1] Following insertion of the needle into the blood vessel, the catheter is inserted and the needle removed. On withdrawal of the needle a cap, which is encompassed by the catheter, locks over the needle tip. At the point at which the needle is removed from the cannula the needle has already been sheathed without any further manipulation or manoeuvre.

2] On removal of the needle from the catheter tube, the capping device locks in place over the needle tip. The lock is facilitated by a wedge design on the internal surface of the cap which locks over the needle barrel with a purpose built ridge, this prevents the cap moving once over the needle tip.

3] The foregoing summary detailed description will be best understood when read in conjunction with the attached drawings in which: FIG. I is a sectional view of a catheter insertion apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a catheter insertion apparatus of FIG. I with the catheter partially removed.

FIG. 3 is an sectional view of the catheter of FIG. I with the needle removed.

4] Referring now to FIG. 1 the device 10 may be referred to as a trocar. The device includes a hollow housing with a needle 11 extending therefrom. The trocar consists of a needle tip 12 which protrudes beyond the front end of the cannula and a distal end 1 S with finder ridges to aid needle withdrawal, and flush chamber 10 which indicates insertion of the catheter within a blood vessel by the pooling of blood.

5] With reference to FIG. I the needle has a triangular elevation 14 and ring 15 positioned along its length. The needle, elevation and ring are covered by the catheter and needle casing 30. The catheter 20 includes a tapered flexible catheter tip 22 to facilitate catheter insertion into the blood vessel. Beneath the catheter wall 20 is a circumferential needle casing 30.

6] FIG 2 shows partial removal of the needle. At this point the catheter 20 is within the blood vessel. On withdrawal of the trocar 10 the cylindrical casing 30 has moved over the needle tip 12. The needle casing has a perpendicular edge 21 at its distal end. This casing 30 slides freely over the needle until it reaches the triangular wedge 14. At the triangular wedge 14 of the needle the needle casing edge 21 slides over the wedge until locked into the groove I S. The ring 16 on the needle prevents the needle cap 30 moving any further. The needle casing 30 is then locked over the needle 10. As the trocar 10 is withdrawn further it is removed from the catheter. The casing O 3 remains locked over the needle tip 12. Fig 3. Shows the trocar 10 fully removed from the catheter 20.

7] The catheter 20 has a circumferential lip 25 at its distal end. The catheter lip stops the needle cap 30 moving out of the catheter. In FIG 2 the needle is partially removed from the catheter, the needle cap 30 is prevented from moving by the lip 25.

Only after the needle casing 30 has been locked over the needle tip 12 as in Fig.3, may the needle cap pass the catheter lip. The needle tip is then fully removed from the catheter with the needle cap locked over the needle tip.

8] It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that further additions and modifications may be made to the device as disclosed herein. Furthermore, terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation. There is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof. It is recognized, however, that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention as claimed. To

Claims

I. An apparatus for intravenous catheter insertion, which consists of a needle and catheter that is inserted into a blood vessel.
2. An apparatus as claimed in claim I where the needle slides within the catheter tube and is supported at its front end by the catheter tip and at its distal end by the needle end.
3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 where the needle casing sits within the catheter and engages grooves on the needle.
4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, the casing moves freely within the catheter, such that on removal of the needle, the needle casing moves over the needle tip.
5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, where the needle casing is locked over the needle tip on withdrawal of the catheter.
6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, where on removal of the needle from the catheter the needle casing covers the needle tip.